Fungi can also feed on pollutants such as oil spills, toxic chemicals like sarin nerve gas and TNT, and even radioactive waste.

Mushrooms are the most widely known fungi, but they can also be microscopic, single-celled yeasts that cannot be seen with the naked eye.

Around 2,000 species are still being classified each year, say experts, and an estimated 93% of fungal species are still unknown to science.More than 100 scientists from more than 18 countries contributed to the report by Kew’s Royal Botanic Gardens, which says “fungi rarely get the attention they deserve”.